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PETRA RULES THIS HOUSE PAGE 4
Major accolade
Latrobe Valley residents Merinda Harrison-Drake and Raymond Beebe have each been awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. MORE - PAGE 3
GRAND AMBITION
LIONS CLUB SADDENED BY BREAK-IN PAGE 7
Star of the South confident it can cover Yallourn exit
By MICHELLE SLATER
A 2200 megawatt offshore wind farm slated for Bass Strait says it could “wholly and reliably� cover an early exit of Yallourn from the electricity grid. Star of the South lodged a submission to the Australian Energy Market Operator earlier this year as part of discussions around a new transmission link between Victoria and NSW. The project off the coast of Port Welshpool could be one the world’s largest wind farms, providing 18 per cent of Victoria’s energy needs and be fully operational by 2027.
In its AEMO submission, Star of the South said modelling showed it had the capacity to “almost wholly and reliably cover the generation shortfall of a Yallourn exit�. The submission said the project should be a credible option to hedge against any “acceleration of earlier than expected coal exits� or delays in Snowy 2.0 and, or transmission upgrades. It also said about 20 smaller onshore projects would be needed to replicate the project’s output and contribution to security. Star of the South modelling showed a strong “cause and effect� relationship
between hot days and the strength of offshore wind in Bass Strait, which was “perfectly timed to a high demand for electricity�. Star of the South chief development officer Erin Coldham said this unique weather pattern - combined with the size and scale of the project - had the potential to provide “baseload-like� levels of power into the grid when most needed. “Gippsland has been the home of power generation in Victoria for many years - offshore wind provides a unique opportunity to continue that tradition as existing generators start to reach their forecast exit dates,� Ms Coldham said.
“Victoria needs secure, reliable and affordable power into the future - the Star of the South is a viable option as we increasingly transition to renewable forms of energy generation.� Star of the South is also confident that a Victorian government requirement to undertake an Environmental Effects Statements that was issued in April would not delay the project. “We believe the Star of the South could provide the right jobs at the right time, with new jobs and investment in Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley to help boost the region’s economy,� Ms Coldham said.
PUZZLES, BRAIN STRAIN - IT’S TIME TO TAKE A BREAK: PAGE 6
Darren Chester Proud to support our community #lovegippsland
Fe Federal Member For Gippsland www.darrenchester.com.au w 1300 131 785 Authorised by Darren Chester MP, National Party of Australia, 126 Franklin Street, Traralgon VIC 3844
GLORY DAYS: BOLDEN’S LAKERS VALLEY SPORT
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